Folding frame for a case

ABSTRACT

A folding frame structure, wherein a folding structure includes two movable binded members and a fixing clasp member. Two ends of the two movable binded members are respectively affixed to edges of a fixed supporting board and a movable supporting board, and two fastening members are respectively affixed to movable ends of two of the movable supporting boards. After joining together the two fastening members by a mutually embedding method, a fastening catch then securely clasps together the two fastening members. The present invention not only increases convenience when assembling the case, moreover, it effectively reduces the dimensions of the case after folding to facilitate storing away.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a collapsible frame for a case, whichis stored away using a multistage folding method. Moreover, a fasteningstructure that can be quickly clasped together for securing the framestructure increases convenience when assembling the case, and moreeffectively reduces the dimensions of the case after folding tofacilitate storing away.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a conventional case a as seen on themarket, the majority of which have a frame structure a2 disposed withinan outer casing a1. The frame structure a2 is used to support the outercasing a1, thereby forming a holding space a3 for a user to placearticles therein. Although the conventional case a is extremelyconvenient, the inability to reduce the dimensions of the framestructure a2 when not in use is a cause for frustration in storing awaythe oversized case a. Referring to FIG. 2, which shows a foldaway case athat has appeared on the market because of the aforementionedshortcoming in the conventional case. A frame structure a2 is disposedwithin the case a, and a hinge a4 is fitted on each curved corner of theframe structure a2; moreover, a fastening structure a5 is configured ateach end of the case a. When the fastening structures a5 are unfastened,short side supporting boards a21 are respectively folded inward onto twolong side supporting boards a22, which are then folded down togetheronto the bottom of the case a, and an existing zipper a6 is then used tozip up the case a, thereby achieving the object of reducing thedimensions of the case a by folding away the frame structure a2.Although the frame structure a2 improves achieving targeted reduction inthe dimensions of the case a, in practical use, the problem of thecurved corners of the frame structure a2 having insufficient supportingstrength is still present, moreover, assembly is inconvenient. Hence,the inventor of the present invention has designed a new improved casefolding frame structure, wherein the supporting strength of a framestructure does not weaken when in use, and eliminates unnecessaryfrustration in handling. Moreover, adoption of a new design for afastening catch enables greater convenience in assembling the framestructure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the shortcomings of the aforementioned conventionalstructures, the inventor of the present invention, having accumulatedyears of experience in related arts, attentively and circumspectlycarried out extensive study and exploration to ultimately design a newimproved folding frame structure.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a folding framestructure that can be used in a general case, which not only moreeffectively reduces dimensions of the case when storing away but alsoeliminates concern about weakness in the supporting strength when inuse.

Another object of the present invention is to provide fastening membershaving simple structure and that facilitate convenient assembly of thefolding frame structure.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, the folding framestructure of the present invention is structured to comprise a pluralityof fixed supporting boards, movable supporting boards, foldingstructures and fastening members. Two ends of the folding structure arerespectively attached to the fixed supporting boards and the movablesupporting boards. The folding structure is structured to comprise twomovable binded members and a fixing clasp member, wherein side edges ofthe two movable binded members are provided with reciprocal pairingserrated block members, which after reciprocally inter-inserting definesa pivot connection therebetween. A side edge of one of the movablebinded members is provided with an inverted U-shaped clip portion and aplurality of through holes. Two protruding pieces respectively inwardlyprotrude from inner sides of the clip portion, which respectively clipwithin corresponding grooves of the fixing clasp member and movetherewithin. The through holes are used for insert pieces that protrudefrom the fixing clasp member to insert therein. The fastening membersare respectively affixed to movable ends of the movable supportingboards. One of the fastening members is provided with a mounting slot,and an embedding groove is defined center of an edge of the otherfastening member corresponding to position of the mounting slot. Afastening catch is disposed within the mounting slot, and catchesconfigured on a front end of the fastening catch protrude out from themounting slot when disposed therein. A rear end of the fastening catchis provided with an elastic member, and a circular hole is definedcenter of the fastening catch, an inner side edge of which is providedwith a clasp member that protrudes from the plane of the fasteningcatch, which is used to securely clip the fastening catch within themounting slot. The catches at the front end of the fastening catchinsert within corresponding fastening holes of the embedding groove,thereby achieving object of fastening together the fastening members.

According to the aforementioned structure, when using the foldingstructure, the block members of the movable binded members are firstmutually clipped together to fix position of the folding structure, thenthe fixing clasp member is simultaneously rotated and translated toinsert the insert pieces of the fixing clasp member into the throughholes of the movable binded member. Furthermore, the two correspondingfastening members are mutually clasped together, and the catches at thefront end of the fastening clasp clip within the fastening holes of theembedding groove, thereby rigidly joining together the folding structureand the fastening members to form an integrated body. Moreover, eachlinking portion has a clasp or clip fastening structure, therebyeliminating concern about weakness in the supporting strength when inuse. When storing away the folding structure, the fastening catch isshifted away from its fastening within the embedding groove to separatethe catches at the front end of the fastening catch from the fasteningholes. The movable binded member and the fixing clasp member are thenpulled open and the fixing clasp member rotated. The two movable bindedmembers are also rotated, thereby moving the movable supporting boardtowards the fixed supporting board, thus realizing multistage folding ofthe folding structure, which effectively reduces dimensions of the casefor storing away. Furthermore, after a fastening catch is insertedwithin an opening defined center of the mounting slot, a clasp member ofthe fastening catch is used to clasp within an inner side of the openingof the mounting slot, thereby securely clasping together the fasteningstructure. Moreover, a rear end of the fastening catch is configuredwith an elastic member, which apart from providing restoring elasticitywhen pressing the fastening catch disposed within the fastening member,also provides a force for clasping the clasp member within the openingof the mounting slot. According to the aforementioned configuration,simplicity of the folding frame structure of the present inventionfacilitates both convenient assembly and use.

To enable a further understanding of said objects and the technologicalmethods of the invention herein, brief description of the drawings isprovided below followed by detailed description of the preferredembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a prior art structural elevational view of a case.

FIG. 2 shows a prior art structural elevational view of a folding case.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded elevational view according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 3A shows a structural elevational view of a fastening claspaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows an assembled elevational view according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 5A shows a top view of the present invention in an opened state.

FIG. 5B shows a schematic view depicting actions when opening thepresent invention.

FIG. 6A shows a top view of the present invention folded away.

FIG. 6B shows a schematic view depicting actions when folding away thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 3A and FIG. 4, an improved folding framestructure of the present invention is structured to comprise a pluralityof fixed supporting boards 10, movable supporting boards 20, foldingstructures 30 and fastening members 40.

Two ends of the folding structure 30 are respectively attached to thefixed supporting boards 10 and the movable supporting boards 20. Thefolding structure 30 is structured to comprise two movable bindedmembers 31, 32 and a fixing clasp member 33, wherein side edges of thetwo movable binded members 31, 32 are provided with reciprocal pairingserrated block members 31 a, 32 a respectively, which after reciprocallyinter-inserting defines a pivot connection therebetween. A side edge ofthe movable binded member 32 is provided with an inverted U-shaped clipportion 32 b and a plurality of through holes 32 c. Two protrudingpieces 32 b 1 respectively inwardly protrude from inner sides of theclip portion 32 b, which respectively clip within corresponding grooves33 a of the fixing clasp member 33 and move therewithin. The throughholes 32 c are used for insert pieces 33 b that protrude from the fixingclasp member 33 to insert therein.

A side edge of one of the fastening members 40 is provided with aprotruding mounting slot 41 and a plurality of insert slots 42. Anopening 41 a is defined center of the mounting slot 41, and outer edgesof the mounting slot 41 are provided with a plurality of locating clasps41 b. Catches 41 c 1 configured on a front end of the fastening catch 41c protrude out from the mounting slot 41 when inserted therein, and arear end of the fastening catch 41 c is provided with an elastic member41 c 2. A circular hole 41 c 3 is defined center of the fastening catch41 c, an inner side edge of which is provided with a clasp member 41 c 4that protrudes from the plane of the fastening catch 41, which is usedto securely clip the fastening catch 41 c within the opening 41 a of themounting slot 41. An embedding groove 43 is defined center of an edge ofthe other fastening member 40 corresponding to position of theprotruding mounting slot 41 of the other fastening member 40. Peripheraledges of the embedding groove 43 are provided with locating holes 43 aand fastening holes 43 b corresponding to the locating clasps 41 b andthe catches 41 c 1 respectively. Upper and lower sides of the embeddinggroove 43 are respectively provided with insert pieces 44, which areused to increase supporting strength after clasping together thefastening members 40. Furthermore, ends of the aforementioned twofastening members 40 are respectively affixed to movable ends of two ofthe movable supporting boards 20 by means of an integrated method or aninsert fixing method. After mutual embedding of the two fasteningmembers 40, the catches 41 c 1 at the front end of the fastening catch41 c clip within the fastening holes 43 b of the embedding groove 43,the locating clasps 41 b insert within the respective locating holes 43a of the mounting slot 41, and the insert pieces 44 respectively insertwithin the insert slots 42, thereby achieving rigid, precise and secureclasping together of the two fastening members 40.

Referring to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, when using the folding structure 30,the folding structure 30 is first opened outwardly to the side, therebyenabling the block members 31 a, 32 a of the two movable binded members31, 32 to respectively mutually clip together and fix position of thefolding structure 30, then the fixing clasp member 33 is simultaneouslyrotated and translated to insert the insert pieces 33 b of the fixingclasp member 33 into the through holes 32 c of the movable binded member32. Furthermore, the two corresponding fastening members 40 are mutuallyclasped together, and the catches 41 c 1 at the front end of thefastening clasp 41 c clip within the fastening holes 43 b of theembedding groove 43, thereby rigidly joining together the foldingstructure 30 and the fastening members 40 to form an integrated body.Referring to FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, when folding away the folding structure30, the fastening catch 41 c is shifted away from its fastening withinthe embedding groove 43 to separate the catches 41 c 1 at the front endof the fastening catch 41 c from the fastening holes 43 b. The movablebinded member 32 and the fixing clasp member 33 are then pulled open andthe fixing clasp member 33 rotated. The two movable binded members 31,32 are also rotated, thereby moving the movable supporting board 20towards the fixed supporting board 10, thus realizing multistage foldingof the folding structure 30, which effectively reduces dimensions of thecase for storing away.

In conclusion, the improved folding structure 30 of the folding framestructure of the present invention not only more effectively reducesdimensions of the case when storing away, moreover, the presentinvention eliminates concern about weakness in the supporting strengthwhen in use. Furthermore, improvement in the fastening members 40includes simplification of structure, convenience in assembly, andeffectiveness of greater facilitation of operation. Practicability andadvancement of the present invention clearly comply with essentialelements as required for a new patent application, accordingly, a newpatent application is proposed herein.

It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described hereinare merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that awide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilledin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas set forth in the following claims.

1. A folding frame structure, comprising a plurality of fixed supportingboards, movable supporting boards, folding structures and fasteningmembers, and characterized in that: two ends of the folding structureare respectively attached to ends of the fixed supporting board and themovable supporting board, the folding structure comprises two movablebinded members and a fixing clasp member, wherein side edges of the twomovable binded members are provided with reciprocal pairing serratedblock members, which after reciprocally inter-inserting defines a pivotconnection therebetween, another side edge of one of the movable bindedmembers is provided with an inverted U-shaped clip portion and aplurality of through holes, two protruding pieces respectively inwardlyprotrude from inner sides of the clip portion, which respectively clipwithin corresponding grooves of the fixing clasp member and movetherewithin, the through holes are used for insert pieces that protrudefrom the fixing clasp member to insert therein; a side edge of one ofthe fastening members is provided with a protruding mounting slot and aplurality of insert slots, an opening is defined center of the mountingslot, and outer edges of the mounting slot are provided with a pluralityof locating clasps, and a fastening catch is disposed within themounting slot; an embedding groove is defined center of an edge of theother fastening member corresponding to position of the mounting slot ofthe other fastening member, and peripheral edges of the embedding grooveare provided with locating holes and fastening holes corresponding tothe locating clasps and catches of the fastening catch respectively;upper and lower sides of the embedding groove are respectively providedwith insert pieces.
 2. The folding frame structure according to claim 1,wherein catches configured on a front end of the fastening catchprotrude out from the mounting slot when inserted therein, and a rearend of the fastening catch is provided with an elastic member, moreover,a circular hole is defined center of the fastening catch, an inner sideedge of which is provided with a clasp member that protrudes from theplane of the fastening catch, which is used to securely clip thefastening catch within the opening of the mounting slot.
 3. The foldingframe structure according to claim 1, wherein the fastening members arerespectively affixed to movable ends of the movable supporting boards bymeans of an integrated method.
 4. The folding frame structure accordingto claim 1, wherein the fastening members are respectively affixed tomovable ends of the movable supporting boards by means of an insertfixing method.